Improvement in fences



Uisrrnn STnTrs PATENT @Tricia A WILLIAM nnviNs, or LYONS, NEW YORK IMPROVEMENT IN FENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. @,GSQL dated June (i, 15565.

Ieners in section to show the manner of securing the same upon the wires; Fig. 3, a plan of Fig. 2; Figs. I and 5, perspective and elevation views, respectively, of the posts.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention consists, first, in forming the sections composing the fence of slats and stiffeners strung upon wires in such a manner as to brace the sections firmly against either a vertical or lateral strain; and, second, in the particular construction and arrangements of the posts. y

As represented `in the drawings, A A are the sect-ions, and B B the posts. The sections are composed of three essential parts-viz., vertical slats a a, horizontal stiffeners b Z, and wires c c. The slats are made of diamond form in cross-sections, as also are the stiifeners. The slats are placed with two opposite sharp edges on a line with the direction of the felice, and the ends ofthe stiffeners are notched, as shown at d, of corresponding shape to fit the angle of the slats, which they inclose, as represented most clearly in Fig.4 3.y Thus arranged, passages are bored through both slats and stiffeners at the top and the bottom (and intermediately, if desired) longitudinally of the fence, an d the same are strung alternately on wires c c, which, at the ends of the sections, are twisted or knotted in such a manner as to draw the slats and stiifeners firmly together as a whole.

Fences made up simply of bare wire lengths have long been employed. They are so frail, however, as to be almost worthless. To render them more effective, various plans have been adopted. In one slats are woven into wires, a double strand or strands being employcd both at the top and the bottom, passing around each slat, and then being twisted to hold them at the proper distance apart.

There are several difficulties in such an arrangement, however. The fence has not the necessary stiffness between the slats, but bends t easily at any powerapplied, the slats soon get loose and fall out, and the use of double wires makes considerable extra cost. In another the slats are strung on the wires, the latter being bent between the slats to keep them apart; but in neither of these arrangements are intermediate stiffeners employed between the slats. In contradistinction to these devices an important feature of my invention consists in the employment of the stiff'- eners b b in combination with the slats formed as described-that is, the slats being of diamond shape, and the stiffeners notched at d to inclose them. By this arrangement several advantages are attained: First, the stiffeners keep the slats at proper distance apart and keep them in position at all times and under all circumstances, second, and most important, the stiffeners give the sections a stiffness and rigidity that cannot be attained without their use. Vhen the stiffeners and slats are drawn fast together by the wires, it will be seen that the notches d, fitting around the slats and inelosing the same, will resist any lateral strain, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, and the vertical bearing they have against the slats will resist any vertical strain, as indicated by the arrow, Fig. 2. This arrangement is most effective in giving the desired stiffness to wire fences and still insuring cheapness. The fence thus produced is nearly as strong as an ordinary picket-fence, while it costs much less. Third, the angles of the slats being placed outward, they cut the wind, and the fence is thus not easily blown down. The ends of the wires on which the slats and stiifeners are strung are provided with hooks g g, ,which hook into Iianges or eyes lzI 7L of the posts to sustain the sections.

The posts may either be entirely made of iron, as shown at the right hand in Fig. 1, or an iron socket andpoint, with a wooden post, may be employed, as shown at the left hand in the same figure. In either cas-e rightangled wings i t' are made, not only to strengthen the posts, but also to hold firmly in thea earth when drivenin without inclining in either direction. In many cases it is desirable to use aboard, G, beneath each section, to give the fence an ornamental appearance. To secure this in place, I provide the two wings of the bottom of the post that stand in the direction of the length of the fence with spurs or forks 7s hat such a distance apart as will cori resp ond with the Width of the board, and these spurs or forks clasp the board, which is held from rising or falling by shoulders ZZ. I also provide the wings below the spurs or forks with notches m on, so that by inserting the point of a bar or lever therein the post can be easily removed from the earth without digging. Where the wooden post is employed, the uppereyes, 7L h, which receive the hooks of the section, form part of a clasp, H, that slides over the top of the post. As fast as the posts are `driven into the ground and the sections hooked to them they are spread or drawn apart, soas to straighten the sections and keep them taut. In this manner a perfect fence is formed.

l I am aware that wire fences are not new, and such, broadly, I do not claim 5 but I am not aware that sections made up of the diamond slats, stiffeners, and wires have ever before been employed in the manner and accomplishing the results I have named. Iron posts are also old 5 but the construction of the same with the spurs k k and the notches m m I believe to be original with myself.

What I claim as my invention, and desire XVM. NEVINS.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN KNoWLEs, DANIEL D. MEDLEY. 

